5 South Shore districts get money for full-day programs

Five South Shore school districts will be beneficiaries of a $2.8 million state grant program that distributes money to help pay for creation of full-day kindergarten programs.

Kristen Walsh

Five South Shore school districts will be beneficiaries of a $2.8 million state grant program that distributes money to help pay for creation of full-day kindergarten programs.

The state Department of Education transitional grants will benefit 35 school districts in the state, including Canton, Carver, Randolph, Milton and the Silver Lake Regional.

The money will be used to improve facilities, train teachers and buy books, furniture and computer technology.

Silver Lake will receive money for full-day kindergartens in Halifax and Kingston.

Assistant Superintendent Joy Blackwood said the grant is a wonderful opportunity for the district.

Of the 35 school systems receiving a grant, 17 are new to the program and 18 are expanding full-day kindergartens.

Kingston had received the grant for this school year and started full-day kindergarten in four of the town’s eight kindergarten classes.

Next year’s money will allow the town to add four classes.

Silver Lake also received a grant to bring four full-day classes to Halifax.

Blackwood said the amount of the grant depends on each school system’s budget. She said, each town’s school committee considers full-day kindergarten a priority.

‘‘We’re in the beginning stages of building the budget, and the grant is definitely very important,’’ Blackwood said. ‘‘The grant helps us to provide a foundation, (but) without the budget completed and approved, the new full-day kindergarten classes are just a possibility.’’

Blackwood said residents of the district have shown support for the full-day kindergartens, praising the educational materials children have been exposed to and the additional time for reading, writing, mathematics and classes such as music, art, gym and library.

Like Kingston, Randolph received the grant this year for four full-day kindergarten classes. The grant for next school year will help pay for six more classes.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Silverman said the new classes have already been worked into the town’s budget for fiscal 2009. In Randolph, families pay tuition to help offset the cost of full-day kindergarten. Costs range from less than $1,000 up to $3,100 for the year, depending on the family’s situation.

Silverman said he hopes to be able to make full-day kindergarten an option for all Randolph students.

‘‘Full-day kindergarten has been wonderful. The difference in achievement in the students is palpable, and the depths that teachers are able to get to with students is just remarkable,’’ he said.

Blackwood and Silverman said they plan to apply for state grants that help fund the operating costs of the program.

Money for full-day kindergarten

$135,000 - Milton

$120,000 - Silver Lake Regional

$105,000 - Carver

$90,000 - Randolph

$30,000 - Canton

Source: state Department of Education.

Kristen Walsh may be reached at Kwalsh@ledger.com.

The Patriot Ledger

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